Lifting sling



F. R. OSTDIEK LIFTING SLING Feb. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1960 lNl/E/VTOR Franc/'5 FF. Osfd/ek ATTORNEYS Feb. 13,1962 os 3,021,167

LIFTING SLING Filed Aug. 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NW N lAll E/vro F ranc/s R Osfd/e/r ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1962 F. R. OSTDIEK 3,021,167

LIFTING SLING Filed Aug. 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Franc/s R. Osfd/ek BY Ufa m ATTORNEYS United States Patent States of America as represented by the Secretary of.

the Navy Filed Aug. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 52,315 Claims. (Cl. 294--86) The present invention relates generally to handling equipment for missiles. More particularly the invention pertains to an improved lifting sling which is designed to facilitate the handling of aerial missiles or the major components thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a lifting sling that may be easily fitted to a missile or missile component and may be latched in position so that such missile or component may be easily and safely moved from place to place in a missile assembly area or on shipboard.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a lifting sling which, because of the arrangement and design of the lifting cables, missile engaging sections, and spreader bar employed, utilizes the weight of the missile or component being lifted for insuring that it will be held firmly against accidental displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lifting sling that will be simple and rugged in construction and highly efiicient in operation.

The invention also provides, as another object, a lifting sling including pairs of mutually slidable, semi-circular sections that may be easily fitted about a missile ormissile component, and spaced pairs of supporting cables connected to the sections, the cables and sections being so arranged that when lifting force is applied, the sections will be caused to engage securely about the missile or component to be transported.

Other objects of the invention are to provide in a lifting sling, latching means for retaining the missile engaging sections in extended or retracted positions, and means for preventing separation of the sections.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

' FIG. 1 is an end view of the lifting sling as it would appear installed on a missile or outer wall of such missile by broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the sling in operative position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail section on the line 33 of FIG. 1, particularly showing the latch employed.

FIG. 3A is a detail section showing the latch plunger as it would appear. in disengaged position.

FIG. 4 is an end view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the sling asit would appear prior to extension of the mutually slidable sections to operative positions.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 but viewed from the opposite side. i

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing one of the ball and socket cable connectors employed.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail section on the line 77 of FIG. 2. e p z 1 FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail section on the line 88 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail section on the. line 9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a of FIG. 7.

Briefly, the lifting sling or component being indicated fragmentary sectionon the line 10 -40 missile component, the

3,621,167 Patented Feb. 13, 1862 semicircular sections that are joined by tie rods to form a frame, and are supported by cables which are secured at their upper ends to a spreader bar. The pa rs of sections, cables, and spreader bar are so arranged that when the sections of each pair are engaged about a missile or missile component and lifting force is applied to the cables, said sections are caused to engage the wall of the missile or component so that the same may be safely lifted and transported. Rollers are provided for the sections to assure free, movement thereof about the missile or component wall, and a detent type latch is employed to maintain them in either extended or retracted positions. A locking plate prevents separation of the sections, and guide rollers insure smooth sliding engagement thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the pairs of mutually slidable substantially semi-circular sections of the lifting sling are shown generally at 10 and 12. Since the pairs of sections are identical, except for the provision on the pair 10 of a latch and a stop plate, a description of one pair will suffice for both. The pair of sections 10 includes an outer U-shape section 13 and an inner inverted T-shape section 14, the inner section being slidable in the outer section. The outer section 13 is open at its inner end, to receive the inner section, and includes side walls 15 and 16 and a bottom wall 17. Mounted on the side walls 15 and 1.6 near the open end and extending inwardly above the bottom wall are spaced pairs of opposed guide rollers 18. As best seen in FIG. 8, the rollers 18 are mounted on pins 19 which extend through the side walls 15 and 16 and through bosses 20 on said side walls, and are threaded at their outer ends to receive nuts 21. As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8, the outer margins ofthe base flange of the inner section 14 are reduced in thickness to define tracks 22 for the guide rollers 18. To permit the attachment of a clevis and constituting the present invention includes spaced pairs of inter-connected substantially I cable, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, lugs 23 are secured to .the side walls 15 and 16 of the outer section 13 near its open end. For the same purpose a lug 23A is formed on the inner end of the inner section 14. The opposite end of the outer section is closed by an end wall 24, as best seen in FIG. 5, and secured to the end wall 24 is a bearing plate 25.

- From the foregoing it will be understood that the sections of the pairs 11) and 12 will be slidable from the retracted positions shown in FIG. 4 to the extended positions of FIG. 1, the guide rollers 18 assuring smooth interengagementof said sections and preventing upward displacement of the-inner sections from the outer sections. To prevent endwise separation of the sections beyond fully extended positions, a stop plate 26 is mounted on the inner section of the pair 10. The stop plate 26, as best seen in FIG. 3, extends laterally above the side walls of the outer U-shape section 13 and is provided with depending, spaced legs 27. A pin 28, which extends through the legs 27 and the upper margin of the inner section 14, secures the stop plate to said section. As will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, the stop plate 26 will contact the lugs 23 on the outer section 13 when the sections of the pair 10 are in fully extended positions.

The pairs of sections 10 and 12 are interconnected by tie rods 29, 39, 31 and 31 tions of the pairs will move in unison. The tie rods 29 and 30' are connected between the inner sections 14 or" the pairs, while the tie rods-31 and 31 are connected betweenthe oppo'sed'side walls of the outer sections 1.3.

More specifically, the tie rod 29 has its opposite ends their outer ends,

so that the corresponding secbolted to lugs 32 1 of said sections, the bolts being located above the bottom walls of said sections so the heads thereof will not interfere with the relative movement of the sections. Similarly, the ends of the tie rod 31 are secured to the outer sections near the open ends thereof.

The pairs of sections and 12 are assured facile movement about the cylindrical Wall of a missile or missile component by rollers 34 and 35, mounted between the free ends of the inner and outer sections, respectively, and by fi'xed casters 36, mounted in opposed spaced relation on the outer sections near their inner ends. In more detail, the roller 34 is mounted between slightly enlarged extensions 37 of the inner sections 14, by suitable pins 38 on said roller, and the roller 35 is mounted between the end plates25 on the end walls 24 of the outersections 13. The fixed casters 36 are, as best seen in FIG. 9, mounted on bolts 39 secured to bosses 40 on the inner walls 16 of the outer sections 13.

To retain the pairs of sections 10 and 12 in fully extended or fully retracted positions a latch 41 isprovided. The latch 41 is best illustrated in FIG. 3', and is mounted. in the side Wall of the outer. section 13 of the pair of sections 19 near the inner end thereof. The latch in cludes a cylindrical body 42 which is externallythreaded to receive nuts 43 and 44 for securing the latch in place on the wall 15, and is-counter bored from its oppositeends to form a spring-receiving recess 45 and a detentreceiving recess 46. Diametricaily aligned slots 47 areformed in the outer end portion of the body and communic'ate with the recess46. A plunger 48 extends axially through thhe body 42 and carries an enlarged head 49 at its inner end, the head and plunger forming a shoulder 56. A spring 51, in the recess 45 and bearing against" the shoulder 59, urges the plunger inwardly. At'its outer end the plunger carries a knob 52' which has a reduced hub 53 that is slidable in the recess 46, the knob being secured to the plunger by a detent pin 54 having opposite end portions extending into the slots' 47.

In FIG. 3 the plunger 480i the latch 41 is shownin the latching position with the head 49 thereof engaged in one of two openings, 55 or 55A, formed in the inner section 14 of the pair of sections 10. The opening 55 is. located near the inner end of the section 14.so that when the latch plunger head. 49 is. engaged therein, the sections 13 and ld-will be retained in fully extended positions, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. The opening 55A" is formed in the section 14 near its outer end so that, as seen in: FIG. 4, the latch, whenengaged, will retain the sections in retracted positions. The latch may-be disengaged from the section 14 by simply withdrawihgthe plunger 48 against the compression of, the spring 51; it may be held out of engagement, as shown in. FIG.. 3A, simply by turning the knob 52 a quarter-turn, after-the pin 54 has cleared the slots 47, when the ends of the pin will bear against the outer end face; of the body 42.

For transporting a missile or missilecomponent from place to place by the use of the connected pairs of sec"- tions 10 and 12 described hereinabove, support structure including cables, a spreader bar, and associatedconnecting devices is employed. This structure will now bode.- scribed. As best seen in FIG. 5, the spreader bar, in? dicated generally at 56, consists of a fiat plate 57 and end plates 58 and 59 secured to the plate 57- at its, opposite ends. The plate 57 isof polygonal shape, having. a straight bottom edge and tapered top edges. A central opening 6t! is formed in the center of the plate'57 to receive the hook of a chain hoist. The end plates 58-an'd 59 are disposed perpendicularly to the plate 57 and have lower end portions extending. below the bottom edge of said end plate. The spreaderbar 55 extends above the sections it and 12, in spaced relation thereto, and is substantially equal in length to the distance between said sections.

The spreader. bar is connected to. the pairs of sections 10 and 12 by pairs of'cableaandcle ises at theopposite end of the cable 61 has a ball 65 swaged thereon, which ball is carried in a socket 66 that forms a part of a clevis 67, of sheet metal, that is pivotally connected to the end plate 58 of the spreader bar 56-by a bolt 68. The bolt 68 also pivotally connects a cievis 69 to said end plate 58, saidclevis' 69 being fastened to the upper end of the cable 62, and. the legs of the clevis. straddling those of the clevis 67. Since cable and clevis structure identical to that just described is employed for connecting the sections of the pair 12 to the end plate 59 of the spreader bar 56, it is believed. thatv a detailed description or" said structure is unnecessary.

Although it is believed that the construction and op,- eration of, the lifting. sling constituting the. present inventionwill be understood from the foregoing description, a convenient way of using the invention, for transporting a missile or missile component, will now be briefly described.

First,,let it be assumed that the pairs of sections 10 and:

12 are inthe extended positions shown in FIG. 1. Prior to attachment to a missile or component the pairs of.

sections are placed on a flat surface and the latch 41. disengaged, when the sectionsof. each pair may be moved upwardly to the retracted positions shown in FIG. 4. The

latch 41 is engaged for temporarily retaining the sections:

retracted. The book of a chain hoist (not shown) is then attached to the spreader bar 56 and the sling is moved to the missile or component to be handled, and

tions about the missile or component wall. The missilev or. component may then betransported with safety to a. desirednew location. As will; be clearfrom a scrutiny; of FIG. 1, the lifting force applied to the cables 60 and 61 will cause the. pairs of, sections to firmly grip, the. missileor component so that accidental disengagement thereof from the slingwill be impossible.

O bviously manymodifications are, possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the inven: tionmay be practicedotherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A lifting sling including a pair of interconnected substantially semi-circular devices; each device of said pair of devices comprising an outer U-shaped member and: an inner IT-shaped member disposed within the U-shapedmember, means for interconnecting the outer U-shapedimember and: the inner T-shaped member on each device of said. pair of devices in mutually parallel spaced relationship, a cable, secured'to' the outer'member of each device of' said pair of. devices at the outermost ends thereof, and. additional cable secured to the inner member. of each device of said pair of devices at the outermost ends thereof, a spreader, meansconnecting the oppositeends of'the cables'of'the outer members to said spreader, additional means connecting the opposite ends of thecables of the. inner'members to said spreader, the inner memberand outer'member on each device of said pair. of devices being slidable in unison from initially open positions to finally closed positions to surround and engage a body to be lifted, and latch means carried by the outer U-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices andengageable with the inner T-shaped member thereof for latching the members in either of said positions, iifting force applied toithe cableson the outer and inner members tending to tighten the grip of the members on the body to be lifted.

2. A lifting sling as recited in claim 1 wherein said latch comprises a tubular member carried by the outer U-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices, and a spring urged plunger slidably arranged in the tubular member engageable with the inner T-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices.

3. A lifting sling as recited in claim 1, including additionally a roller mounted between the free ends of the inner T-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices, a roller mounted between the free ends of the outer U-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices, and casters mounted in opposed spaced relation near the inner ends of the outer U-shaped member of each device of said pair of devices, said additional rollers and casters assuring free movement of the inner and outer members on the wall of the body to be lifted.

4. A lifting sling including a pair of mutually spaced interconnecting sections, each section of said pair of sections being provided with an outer substantially semicircular U-shaped member and an inner inverted substantially semi-circular T-shaped member and mutually slidable from initially open positions to closed positions extending about an object to be lifted, means including a tie rod operatively connecting the U-shaped member on one section of said pair of sections to the U-shaped member on the other section of said pair of sections for interconnecting the U-shaped members, means including an additional tie rod operatively connected to the inverted T-shaped member on said one section to the inverted T-shaped member of the other section for interconnecting the T-shaped members, cable means operatively connected to the U-shaped member on said one section of said pair of sections, additional cable means operatively connected to the T-shaped member on said other section of said pair of sections, lifting force applied to said cable means on the U and T-shaped members tending to tighten the grip of the member on said object to be lifted, latch means including spring urged plungers slidably arranged in the U-shaped members and engageable with the inverted T-shaped members for maintaining the members in said mutually open positions and said closed positions, means carried by said plungers for moving the plungers into and out of engagement with the T-shaped members when the members are in the opened and closed positions, means carried by the U-shaped member of each section of said pair of sections in engagement with the T-shaped member thereof for maintaining the members in interengaging relationship, and means carried by the T-shaped member of each section of said pair of sections and engageable with the U-shaped member thereof for preventing separation of the members when the members are in said closed position.

5. A lifting sling including a pair of interconnected grappling devices, each of said pair of devices having an outer semi-circular U-shaped member and an inner inverted semi-circular T-shaped member mutually slidable from initially open positions to closed positions, means operatively connecting the U-shaped member of each of said pair of devices in parallel spaced relationship, additional means operatively connecting the inverted 'T-shaped member of each of said pair of devices in parallel spaced relationship, means including a cable connecting the U-shaped member on each of said pair of devices with a lifting tool, additional means including an additional cable connecting the inverted T-shaped member on each of said pair of devices with the lifting tool, lifting force applied to said cables on the U and T-shaped members tending to tighten the grip of the members on the object to be lifted, stop means carried by the T-shaped member on each of said pair of devices and engageable with the complementary U-shaped member thereon for preventing separation of the U and T-shaped members when the members are in closed positions, and guide rollers carried by the U-shaped member of each of said pair of devices in engagement with the complementary T-shaped member thereon for maintaining members in interengaging relationship and preventing radial separation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,388 Moore Mar. 6, 1906 1,729,330 Dart Sept. 24, 1929 2,298,145 Merrylees Oct. 6, 1942 2,624,611 Knapp Jan. 6, 1953 2,655,401 Kelso Oct. 13, 1953 

